Electrical plug and jack assembly

ABSTRACT

An Electrical Plug and Jack Assembly having separate male and female components adapted for self-aligned snap engagement with each other, each of the components having resilient circumferentially positioned wire harness guides to position individual leads for self-effectuating contact with terminals upon the interaction of the closure members.

United States Patent [1 1 Flanagan 1 Sept. 23, 1975 ELECTRICAL PLUG AND JACK ASSEMBLY [75] Inventor: William H. Flanagan, Stamford,

Conn.

[73] Assignee'. Nexus, Incorporated, Stamford,

Conn.

[22] Filed: July 26, 1974 21 Appl.No.: 492,023

[52] US. Cl 339/99 R [51] Int. Cl. ..H01R 11/20 [58] Field of Search 339/97 R, 97 P, 98, 99 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1953 Weisberg 339/99 R 3,041,575 6/1962 Schneider 339/99 R 3,744,007 7/1973 Horak 339/97 R 3,745,228 7/1973 Vogt 339/98 Primary Examiner-Joseph H. McGlynn Assistant Examiner-Mark S. Bicks [57] ABSTRACT An Electrical Plug and Jack Assembly having separate male and female components adapted for self-aligned snap engagement with each other, each of the components having resilient circumferentially positioned wire harness guides to position individual leads for self-effectuating Contact with terminals upon the interaction of the closure members.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures US Patent Sept. 23,1975 shw 2 01 4 3,907,395

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 $1166: 3 of4 3,907,395

Sheet 4 of 4 3,907,395

US Patent Sept. 23,1975

ELECTRICAL PLUG AND JACK ASSEMBLY This invention relates generally to electrical assemblies and in particular to a multi-circuit electrical connector adapted for positive water tight connection between a male plug and female jack.

Various types of electrical connectors have been utilized in the past to effect connections between multicircuits, the majority of which are pre-assembled units which in the event of damage to the circuitry are incapable of field repair. This is particularly true in military installations where due to hard usage a feasibility requirement includes the ability to re-locate a specific lead without the use of specific tools or special training in connector construction.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a multi-circuit electrical connector which is simple to assemble, affords positive connection between the male plug and female jack, defines absolute alignment thereof and the terminations can be effected with a minimum of tools.

It is a.further object of this invention to provide a multi-circuit connector which has water tight integrity and self effecting contact between the connector components and the wiring.

Another object of this invention is to provide a multicircuit connector which will disconnect under a predetermined stress load to prevent damage to the electrical leads.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a multi-circuit connector which is adapted to simple repairs in the field by untrained personnel without the use of special tools.

Other objects of this invention will, in part, be obvious and willin part, appear hereinafter.

Broadly stated, the basic feature of this invention is to provide a connector assembly having separate male and female components adapted for self aligned snap engagement with each other. Each of the components having resilient harness guides to position individual leads for a self-effecting contact with terminals upon the interacting relationship of the shell with the housing.

To the accomplishment of this and the foregoing related ends, the present invention then consists of the means hereafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the drawings and the following description, setting forth in detail certain means illustrating however but one of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the connector assembly;

FIG. 2 is a view in section taken in Line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the housing, retaining sleeves, compression members and wire harness guides of a female component;

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of the housing and working members of the male component;

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of an individual harness guide with the leads in position;

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of the wiring harness with the compression member positioned prior to axial movement.

Reference is now to be had to the drawings wherein an illustrative embodiment of the connector, a construction made in accordance with the present invention and designated by the reference numeral 10 is shown.

Referring to FIG. 1, the basic components of the connector 10 comprise a female jack l2 and male plug 14 adapted for snap engagement.

FEMALE JACK MEMBER Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 & 3, the plug member comprises an outer shell 16 being internally threaded 18 and adopted for threaded engagement with an inner housing 20. Each of these housings have openings 22 and 24 at each end to provide for electrical leads 26 and reception of the male plug 14. A bushing 28 is loosely positioned at one end 30 of the housing having a rubber seal 32 at' one end thereof and adapted upon longitudinal compression to expand radially and provide a seal for the entrance of the leads 26 through opening 22 of the housing. The other end 36 of the bushing 28 has an internally serrated configuration 38 to allow passage of the leads 39 and to form (shown in FIG. 4) a key way adapted for co-operative sliding engagement with a key 40 formed on one end of the harness guide member 42. The key 40 is longitudinally bifurcated to provide a slot 44 to allow passage of the strain relief cord 46 as shown in FIG. 5. A longitudinally moveable compression ring 48 having a chamfered leading edge 49 is slideably fitted over the bushing member 28 and adopted for longitudinal movement over the wiring harness guide member 42. The harness guide member 42 includes a base 50 having a series 'of angularly extending arms 52 connected to the base 50 by means of resilient supports 54. Each of the arms 52 has an opening 56 extending longitudinally therethrough and adapted to receive an individual lead 39 as shown in FIG. 5. The opening 56 of each of the arms 52 has a longitudinally slot 60 formed on the inner surface thereof whereby a section of the lead 39 is exposed for the length of the arm. Extending inwardly from the base 50 is a locating member 62 adopted for cooperative sliding engagement with an aperture 64 formed in the contact holder 66 and held in fixed engagement therewith by pin 65. The contact holder 66 comprises an insulated member 68 having a series of longitudinally extending grooves 70 cut into the periphery thereof and radially spaced from each other. An uneven arrangement of these grooves 70 corresponding to the spacing of the arms 52 of the harness guide 42 allows for definitive pre-positioning and alignment of the leads into pre-determined circuitry. Extending upwardly into the grooves 70 are barbed extensions 72 of contacts 74 radially disposed around the interior surface of the contact holder 66.

In the assembly of the female jack 12, the contact holder 66 is positioned within the innes housing 20 and maintained in position by a press fit therein. The harness guide 42 containing the leads individually extending through the arms 52 is fitted into the contact holder 66 with each of the arms positioned within the grooves 70 so that the longitudinal slots 60 face against the barbed extensions 72. The chamfered edge 49 of the compression ring 48 is placed against the arms 52 and the bushing 28 placed within the open end of the compression ring. The entire assembly is then inserted within the shell 16 and the internal threads thereof engaging those of the inner housing moving the compression ring longitudinally over the resilient arms 52 forcing the individual leads 58 into engagement with the barbed extensions 72 of the contacts 74 piercing the insulation and effecting electrical continuity between the leads 58 and the contacts 74. Simultaneously with this compression action, the bushing 28 surrounding the lead 26 is longitudinally compressed constricting the rubber seal 32 to concentrically maintain the lead 26 therein and preserve the water tight integrity of the unit.

THE MALE PLUG Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the plug member comprises an outer shell 76 being internally threaded 78 and adopted for threaded engagement with an unit housing 80. Each of these housings are of tubular construction and open ended. A bushing 82 is positioned loosely within the shell and has a rubber seal 84 at one end thereof adapted upon longitudinal compression to radially constrict. The other end of the bushing has a serrated configuration 38 to allow passage and the leads 39 and with a keyway adapted for engagement with a key 86 extending radially from a base 88 of a wiring harness guide 90. The key 86 is longitudinally slotted 92 to provide a strain relief guide. A longitudinal moveable compression ring 94 is positioned over the bushing 82 with one end being chaufered 96 and adapted for engagement with the wiring harness 90. The harness guide comprises a base 88 having a plurality -of angularly extending arms 98 connected to the base '88 by means of resilient supports 100. Each of the arms has a longitudinal extending opening 102 therethrough with a slot 104 extending the length of the unit surface thereof, wherein a portion of the lead 58 positioned thereon is exposed for the length of the arm. Extending inwardly from the base 88 is a locating member l06'for insertion within the contact holder 108 which comprises an insulated member 110 having a series of longitudinally extending grooves 112 on the periphery thereof and radially spaced from each other. A key 114 is formed thereon adapted to co-operate with the spacing of the arms 98 to insure alignment of a predetermined circuitry.

Extending within the grooves 112 are barbed extensions 114a of the male contacts 116 longitudinally extending within the insulated member 110 and positioned on a spacer member 118.

To assemble the male plug the contact holder 108 is positioned within the interior housing 80 and maintained in position by a locking pin 120. The harness guide 90 containing the individual leads 39 extending through the arms 98 with each of the arms positioned within the grooves so that the longitudinal slots 104 face against the barbed extension 114a. The chaufered edge 96 of the compression ring 94 is placed against the arms 98 and the bushing 82 placed within the other end of the compression ring. The entire assembly is placed within the shell 76 and threaded into engagement with the internal housing 80. The longitudinal movement of the two interacting housings force the compression ring 94 over the arms 98 compressing them and causing the barbed extensions 114 to pierce the insulation of the leads 58 effecting electrical continuity between the leads 58 and the male contact 116.

The spacer member 118 is level to provide suitable alignment with an interior keyway formed in the interior surface of the contact holder 66.

Snap engagement of the male plug into the female jack is effected by a snap ring 118 positioned within a groove 120 on the inner housing 80 so that longitudinal pressure will effect a connect and disconnect operation. While there has been described herein what are at present considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications and changes may be made without departing from the essence of the invention.

It is therefore to be understood that the exemplary embodiments are illustrative and not restrictive of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and that all modifications that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be included herein.

1 claim:

1. An electrical connector for use with multi-circuits comprising:

a. Contact members positioned on an insulated carrier,

b. said insulated carrier having a series of longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced grooves formed thereon,

c. barbed extensions of the contact members extending through said insulated carrier into said grooves,

d. a wiring harness carrying a series of resilient arms with electrical leads retained, by said arms,

c. said wiring harness adapted for axial engagement with said carrier with arms juxtaposed to the circumferential grooves,

f. a compression member concentrically positioned around a portion of said arms, whereby longitudinal movement of said compression member will compress the leads into piercing engagement with the barbed extensions to effectuate electrical continuity with said contact members.

2. An electrical connector for use with multi-circuits comprising;

a. A Housing,

b. Contact members positioned on an insulated carrier disposed within said housing,

0. said insulated carrier having a series of longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced grooves formed thereon,

d. barbed extensions of the contact members extending thru said insulated carrier into said grooves,

e. a wiring harness carrying a series of resilient arms with electrical leads retained by said arms,

f. said wiring harness adapted for engagement with said carrier with the arrnsjuxtaposed to the circumferential grooves,

g. a compression member concentrically positioned around a portion of said arms, whereby longitudinal movement of said compression member will compress the leads into piercing engagement with the barbed extensions to effectuate electrical continuity with said contact members.

3. An electrical connector for use with multi-circuits comprising;

a. an outer shell and inner housing adapted for (:0-

operative engagement,

b. contact members circumferentially positioned on an insulated carrier and disposed within said inner housing,

0. said insulated carrier having a series of longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced grooves formed on the peripheral surface,

electrical continuity with said contact members.

4. An electrical connector for use with multi-circuits as set forth in claim 2 where said wiring harness has a core member with a series of resilient supports extending angularly therefrom, resilient arms disposed at the distal ends of said supports with electrical leads disposed and retained by said arms. 

1. An electrical connector for use with multi-circuits comprising: a. Contact members positioned on an insulated carrier, b. said insulated carrier having a series of longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced grooves formed thereon, c. barbed extensions of the contact members extending through said insulated carrier into said grooves, d. a wiring harness carrying a series of resilient arms with electrical leads retained, by said arms, e. said wiring harness adapted for axial engagement with said carrier with arms juxtaposed to the circumferential grooves, f. a compression member concentrically positioned around a portion of said arms, whereby longitudinal movement of said compression member will compress the leads into piercing engagement with the barbed extensions to effectuate electrical continuity with said contact members.
 2. An electrical connector for use with multi-circuits comprising; a. A Housing, b. Contact members positioned on an insulated carrier disposed within said housing, c. said insulated carrier having a series of longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced grooves formed thereon, d. barbed extensions of the contact members extending thru said insulated carrier into said grooves, e. a wiring harness carrying a series of resilient arms with electrical leads retained by said arms, f. said wiring harness adapted for engagement with said carrier with the arms juxtaposed to the circumferential grooves, g. a compression member concentrically positioned around a portion of said arms, whereby longitudinal movement of said compression member will compress the leads into piercing engagement with the barbed extensions to effectuate electrical continuity with said contact members.
 3. An electrical connector for use with multi-circuits comprising; a. an outer shell and inner housing adapted for co-operative engagement, b. contact members circumferentially positioned on an insulated carrier and disposed within said inner housing, c. said insulated carrier having a series of longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced grooves formed on the peripheral surface, d. barbed extensions of the contact members extending into said grooves, e. a wiring harness carrying a series of resilient arms with electrical leads retained by said arms, f. a compression member concentrically positioned around a portion of said arms, Whereby, cooperative engagement of said shell with the housing will compress the leads into piercing engagement with the barbed extensions to effectuate electrical continuity with said contact members.
 4. An electrical connector for use with multi-circuits as set forth in claim 2 where said wiring harness has a core member with a series of resilient supports extending angularly therefrom, resilient arms disposed at the distal ends of said supports with electrical leads disposed and retained by said arms. 